Somebody Got Murdered
The Specials Lyrics
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While riding in a car
Some ol'guy take a swig
And passes back the jar
But where they were last night
No-one can remember
Goodbye, for keeps forever
Somebody's dead forever
And you're minding your own business
Carrying spare change
You wouldn't cosh a barber
You're hungry all the same
I been very tempted
To grab it from the till
I been very hungry
But not enough to kill
Somebody got murdered
His name cannot be found
A small stain on the pavement
They'll scrub it off the ground
As the daily crown disperse
No-one says that much
Somebody got murdered
And it' left me with a touch
Somebody got murdered
Somebody's dead forever
Sounds like murder!
Those shouts!
Are they drunk down below?
It's late, and my watch stopped
Some time ago
Sounds like murder!
Those screams!
Are they drunk down below?
The Specials' song, "Somebody Got Murdered," is a story of a murder scene, told from the perspective of a bystander. The lyrics depict a chaotic scene filled with fear, confusion and sadness. The opening lines describe a car ride where people are drinking and smoking, but nobody can remember what happened the night before. Suddenly, the singer discovers that someone has been murdered.
The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's own life, and confesses that while they are struggling financially and might be tempted to steal, they would never resort to murder. The final verse sees the singer observing the aftermath of the murder, as people disperse and clean up the scene. The lyrics suggest that the murder is just another event that will quickly be forgotten by society, yet it leaves a haunting impression on the singer.
The song has a strong anti-violence message, and it raises important questions about the value of human life and the ramifications of crime. The lyrics' stark portrayal makes it clear that the consequences of violence are far-reaching and profound. The Specials' music is often noted for its lively, catchy sound and upbeat ska rhythms, but this song illustrates the band's ability to tackle serious social issues and create moving and thought-provoking lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone lights a cigarette
Someone lights a cigarette in the car they are riding in.
While riding in a car
They are riding in a car when someone lights a cigarette.
Some ol'guy take a swig
An old man takes a swig of alcohol from a jar.
And passes back the jar
He passes the jar back to others in the car.
But where they were last night
Nobody can remember where they were last night.
No-one can remember
All of them were too drunk and stoned to remember anything from the previous night.
Goodbye, for keeps forever
Little do they know that this will be their last moment together because somebody will be murdered soon.
Somebody got murdered
Someone was murdered.
Somebody's dead forever
The person who was murdered is dead forever.
And you're minding your own business
You are going about your own business, not involved in what happened.
Carrying spare change
You are carrying some spare change with you.
You wouldn't cosh a barber
You are not a violent person and would never harm anyone, even a barber.
You're hungry all the same
However, you are still hungry and may be tempted to steal something.
I been very tempted
You have been tempted to steal something before.
To grab it from the till
You have been tempted to steal money from the cash register.
I been very hungry
You have been very hungry before.
But not enough to kill
However, you would never go as far as to kill someone to fulfill your hunger.
His name cannot be found
The person who was murdered remains unidentified.
A small stain on the pavement
All that remains of the murder is a small bloodstain on the pavement.
They'll scrub it off the ground
The authorities will eventually remove the bloodstain from the pavement.
As the daily crown disperse
The crowd that gathered at the scene of the crime eventually disperses and goes about their day.
No-one says that much
Nobody really talks about the murder or tries to find out who did it.
And it's left me with a touch
The murder has affected you deeply, leaving you with a feeling of unease.
Sounds like murder!
You hear someone shouting about murder.
Those shouts!
The shouting is getting louder and more urgent.
Are they drunk down below?
You wonder if the people shouting are just drunk and causing a scene.
It's late, and my watch stopped
You realize that it is already late, and your watch has stopped working.
Some time ago
You don't know when exactly your watch stopped working.
Those screams!
You hear someone screaming as well.
Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
William Lynd
pretty cheery song about murder LOL - The Clash will never be topped, but interesting take.
kevin ska'd 4 life
Exactly that William
Vander
Save Clash!
NINA VEGANA
Not the Specials!! Not Terry!